Belgium and Netherlands move shared border after headless corpse found in lawless peninsula
Belgium and the Netherlands have agreed to relocate their border, closing a lawless peninsula which saw drug dealing, illegal raves, prostitution, and even a headless corpse.
The agreement exchanges 48 acres of territory, with the Dutch receiving 40 acres while the Belgians receive four.
It moves the border back to it’s historic location in the middle of the River Meuse, which divides the two countries.
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The river’s changing course altered the original border agreed in 1843, leaving one Dutch territory on the Belgian side, and two uninhabited Belgian peninsulas on the Dutch side.
One of these was difficult to reach for Belgian police, who could only approach by boat as they needed special permission to cross through Dutch territory.
This issue was worsened by the fact there was no docking area for boats.
As a result, it became an almost lawless peninsula which saw numerous illegal raves, prostitution, and drug dealing.
Four years ago, a headless corpse was found.
However, the swap closes the issue, with Dutch police taking jurisdiction for the area, while Belgium hands over several nature parks in return.
From 1 January 2018, the Belgian-Dutch border is located in the middle of the river Meuse again.
The process has been carried out in harmony and with respect for one another. Diplomacy at its best. pic.twitter.com/E0kreKaUD3
— didier reynders (@dreynders) January 3, 2018
The deal was praised by Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Didier Reynders.
“The process has been carried out in harmony and with respect for one another,” said Mr Reynders.
“Diplomacy at its best.”
There remain, however, Belgian territories within the Netherlands, with the Dutch town of Baarle situated on the zig-zag border leaving adjacent houses located in different countries.